Rumi Forum

Rumi Forum Young Professionals Friendsgiving Dinner
2025-11-20 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Friends Meeting of Washington, 2111 Decatur Pl. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
Rumi Forum Young Professionals Friendsgiving Dinner

What a beautiful evening!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Friendsgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 20th. The night was filled with good food, live music, warm conversations, and heartfelt gratitude — everything Friendsgiving is meant to be.

We’re grateful for the young professionals, community members, and friends who came together to celebrate friendship, connection, and the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Here’s to more gatherings that bring people closer, nurture community, and remind us of the power of gratitude.

Until next time!

Rumi Forum Thanksgiving Programming
2025-11-25 18:00 | Saint Bernadette Catholic Church 7600 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield, 7600 Old Keene Mill Rd, Springfield, VA, United States
Coming together in gratitude

This Thanksgiving season, Rumi Forum was grateful to join hands with diverse faith communities to host two multifaith celebrations—one in Maryland and one in Virginia.

Both gatherings were powerful moments of shared witness, renewed community bonds, and heartfelt appreciation for neighbors of all backgrounds.

With music, reflections, and warm conversations, these celebrations reminded us that gratitude deepens when shared across traditions.

Heartfelt thanks to all our partners, clergy, musicians, volunteers, and friends who made these evenings possible. May the spirit of connection and
mutual understanding continue to guide us forward.

Here’s to gratitude, community, and the beauty of coming together.

Scriptural Reasoning: Abraham's Journey
2026-01-29 18:30 - 20:00 | Virginia Theological Seminary-Addison Academic Center, 3630 Bishop Walker Cir., Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
Kick off the new year with the Rumi Forum!

This is a hybrid event. The Zoom link for this session will be provided the day of the event.
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Our study leader for this session will be Mother Sara Palmer!
We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use www.scripturalreasoning.org content.
A map of the VTS campus can be found here.
The text pack for this session can be found here.
This is a hybrid event. The Zoom link for this session will be provided the day of the event.

Scriptural Reasoning: Beginnings
2026-02-12 18:30 - 20:00 | Virginia Theological Seminary-Addison Academic Center, 3630 Bishop Walker Cir., Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
Explore how the story of creation is told in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam!

This is a hybrid event. The Zoom link for this session will be provided the day of the event.
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
About the Study Leader: Rabbi Marc Israel
Based on the Torah’s dictate to love your neighbor as yourself, Rabbi Israel works to create vibrant and inclusive communities within the congregation, across Rockville, and throughout the world. He is an active member of Jews United for Justice and Action In Montgomery and serves on the J Street clergy network executive council. Rabbi Israel received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1992 and was ordained a rabbi in 1998 by Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. Since June 2019, Marc Israel has been the rabbi of Tikvat Israel in Rockville, MD.
We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use www.scripturalreasoning.org content.
A map of the VTS campus can be found here.
The text pack for this session can be found here
This is a hybrid event. The Zoom link for this session will be provided the day of the event.

Scriptural Reasoning: Clothing and Modesty
2026-04-09 18:30 - 20:00 | Virginia Theological Seminary-Addison Academic Center, 3630 Bishop Walker Cir., Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
How are clothing and modesty addressed in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim scriptures?

This is a hybrid event. The Zoom link for this session will be provided the day of the event.
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
This month our forum will be led by Rev. Dr. Jay L. Moses from Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, in Rockville, Maryland.
Through a call in the Presbytery of Chicago, Jay found the opportunity to work in Inter-religious and Ecumenical Dialogue, where there’s a vibrant intra-cultural community of Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, etc. “Having the ability to live with these communities in seeking peace and understanding has been a great thrill, adventure, and opportunity for growth in my own spiritual understanding.”
We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use www.scripturalreasoning.org content.
A map of the VTS campus can be found here.
The text pack for this session can be found here.
This is a hybrid event. The Zoom link for this session will be provided the day of the event.
Photography & Media Disclosure
This event, hosted in partnership by Rumi Forum and Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), may be photographed, audio recorded, and/or video recorded for documentation, educational, archival, and promotional purposes.
By participating, you grant permission to Rumi Forum and Virginia Theological Seminary to use your image, voice, and likeness in print and digital communications, including but not limited to:

Websites and newsletters
Social media platforms
Event recaps and publications
Annual reports and promotional material

Note: These materials may be used without additional notice or compensation.

Film Screening: The Sultan and The Saint
2026-05-01 18:30 - 20:00 | Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC, DC, 20036, United States
Our screening of The Sultan and The Saint at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle brought together voices from different backgrounds to reflect on faith, dialogue, and peace. Grateful for the conversations and connections that continue beyond the film. Special thanks to the Cathedral of St. Matthew Social Justice and Community Service Committee and the St. Anthony of Nagasaki Secular Franciscan Fraternity for their partnership and support.
